Amato, Pedregon, Johnson NHRA leaders

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Saturday, May 2, 1998 | 5:08 a.m.

ENNIS, Texas - Joe Amato, Cruz Pedregon and Warren Johnson are the leaders entering Sunday's finals of the NHRA's Lone Star Nationals.

Amato is the Top Fuel leader after covering the quarter-mile distance in 4.639 seconds at 318.47 mph Saturday in his dragster.

Pedregon is No. 1 in Funny Car after a 4.855 at 314.79 in a Pontiac. Chuck Etchells, the point leader in Funny Car, failed to qualify for Sunday's eliminations.

Johnson will lead the 16-car Pro Stock field from the pole position after a 7.004 at 197.54.

Ronny Young and Gordie Rivera were not injured in separate accidents during qualifying.

Rivera's Pontiac went out of control and crashed during Pro Stock qualifying. Young's Dodge lost and engine and burst into flames during Funny Car qualifying.